Friends, Russians, Countrymen - Hardcover

Hampton, Howard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 049103864X ISBN 13: 9780491038645

Publisher: Virgin Books, 1990

Synopsis

Flamboyant counterspy Edward Stuart, also known as "the Wizard," must flush out a Soviet spy from among the upper levels of the U.S. nuclear strategy council

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

A spy thriller with a steel base and whipped cream on top? Howard (War Toys) tries just that, and it works. CIA warhorse Edward Stuarti is called back from semi-retirement, in Paris, to close a complicated trap on a senior member of a top disarmament agency who is feeding information to the Russians. Seventy-year-old Stuarti is a flamboyant, arthritic "old faggot" with a devious mind and an Oscar Wilde mouth. He enlists his tough, 40-ish protege Tom Matthews to be point-man in a dangerous scheme to catch a ruthless East German who's already murdered twice to protect the Soviet agent. There's a possibility that Matthews, seriously involved with beautiful ex-agent Kate, may hit burn-out before he gets his man. Stuarti proceeds, in his insouciant way, to manipulate the FBI, CIA, Defense Department apparatchiks and, of course, the bad guys. His wily and outlandish plans end in bloody, hilarious triumph. The New York City background, convoluted plot and colorful characters all work nicely, but Stuarticrabby, tough, smart, totally outrageousis a brilliant creation. And Howard's depiction of bureaucratic Newspeak is delicious.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

An elaborate scam is cooked up to trap a turncoat in a U.S. arms control agency. Pushing the project toward the expected hard-boiled conclusion are two old fogies, one an outrageous fop, the other a standard-issue FBI man with a gift for repartee. Having pinned most of their hopes on a terrific agent now nearly over the edge, the gents wait for their gamble to pay off. Writing with surprising humor, Howard provides a wondrous variation on these well-worn themes. Packed with con artistry, grotesque violence, sharp spycraft, and even some credible romance, this second novel confirms the emergence of a strong contender for top honors in spy writing. Barbara Conaty, Library of Congress
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Virgin Books
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 049103864X
• ISBN 13: 9780491038645
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1